Walt Disney World Resort in July 2010 – Crowd Warnings, Ride Closures, and Special Events

July is a busy month at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Florida weather can be hot and humid but, by doing a little advance planning, you can still plan on having a great time on your WDW summer vacation.

Crowd Warnings for Your July 2010 Trip to Walt Disney World Resort

4th of July / Independence Day travel period – All of July is considered “peak season” but because many people receive a day off for this holiday, they use one less vacation day when traveling this week and that means a busy time at Disney World. This is still a good time to visit – just use a good touring plan, arrive when the parks open, and you’ll be fine. TIP:Avoid Extra Magic Hours! We recommend that everyone avoid the Extra Magic Hours during the busy summer season. Disney has 33,000 hotel rooms and no one goes to Disney alone – that means too many people are pointed in the same direction at the same time. You’ll have a much nicer time by going to a less busy park. This is doubly important if you are not staying at a Disney resort – you don’t want to get to the theme park and find a bunch of Disney guests in line in front of you. TIP: Make dining reservations right away.

Independence Day – this is one of the busiest days of the year at Walt Disney World. Parks often close to capacity so you should arrive early and plan to stay all day. Make your dining reservation immediately. Warning: The Magic Kingdom will be crazy crowded on the 4th of July – visit a different park and you’ll have a better day. Best choices? Go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios which will have fireworks at 9:30PM or Animal Kingdom (and catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Resort).

Fantasmic! (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) -This great show is no longer presented every night. It will be offered 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29. There will be two performances for each of these nights (typically at 9:00PM & 10:30PM) and the second performance will always be much less crowded than the first. This is a very popular show and we highly recommend it – arrive at least 60 minutes early, if you do not have a Fantasmic! Dinner package. Warning:When there are limited performances, you know Disney’s Hollywood Studios is going to be busier on days featuring a Fantasmic! show. TIP: Any day with an Extra Magic Hour & Fantasmic! will be especially crowded. Fantasmic! Dinner Package reservations will be harder to get. Afternoons will be especially busy as those with Park Hopper tickets come over to see the show. A good touring plan will help you manage this. Warning: This show is excellent but it does feature villains for a good 8-10 minutes. The scene is fairly intense and can be frightening to small children.

Main Street Electric Parade (Magic Kingdom) -This parade is offered twice nightly most nights at 9Pm & 11PM in July (10PM & Midnight on July 4th) and the second parade will be much less crowded than the first. . There is only one Main Street Electric Parade on the nights of July 3, 8, 10, 14, 17, 18, 25, 28, 29 – typically at 9PM but check your times guide for exact times during your visit.

TIP:Avoid Character Breakfasts during July! – The theme parks will be at their least crowded and coolest when the parks open. It is far better to book a lunch or dinner reservation that gets you out of the direct sun and out of the crowds a little later in the day. If you’re really looking forward to a character breakfast, try a resort character breakfast before going to the water parks or on your departure day. Another option is to book the latest possible reservation and treat it like brunch, rather than breakfast. For example, Animal Kingdom only has one character meal – Donald’s Breakfast Safari; if this is a priority, try to get a 10:15AM seating, then tour Dinoland USA before breakfast.

A good touring plan is absolutely essential during this busy travel season. There will be lines that are well over an hour long but you don’t have to stand in them to see and do all of the things that are important to you. We provide three choices for custom touring plans – a subscription to TouringPlans.com, the 2009 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (book), or a subscription to Tour Guide Mike (online service) – at no charge to you when you book your trip through Build A Better Mouse Trip. For more information, see: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/freetouringplans.php

Special Events at Disneyworld in July 2010

4th of July Fireworks. Magic Kingdom – 9:00PM fireworks, include a presentation of patriotic music timed to correspond with the pyrotechnic (fireworks) display. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 9:30PM Holiday Fireworks display. Epcot – 10:00PM Illuminations with special Fourth of July finale. TIP:The Magic Kingdom’s “Celebrate America” fireworks are also offered on July 3rd at 9PM and this is a much, much better day to visit the Magic Kingdom. Avoid both the Magic Kingdom & Epcot on July 4th.Epcot’s “Sounds Like Summer” Concert Series ~ June 12 – July 31. . These fun mini-concerts take place in Epcot’s American Gardens Theatre. Most evenings, the shows are at 5:45, 7:00, & 8:15PM. July 4th shows are at 5:15, 6:30, 7:45, & 9PM. Performances are subject to change but here’s the current schedule:outlets. Expect to see athletes, teams, and their families in the resorts.

June 27-July 3: To be determined
July 4 – July 10: Satisfaction – A Tribute to the Rolling Stones
July 11- July 17: Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi)
July 18 – July 24: 2U – The World’s 2nd Best U2 Show
July 25 – 31: Beginnings – A Tribute to Tom Petty

ESPN RISE Sports Festival weekends at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. July 14-27, More than 13,000 young athletes will be competing in softball, baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, and track & field events at the Wide World of Sports Complex. The competition will be televised live on ESPNU and other ESPN Web

Temporary Ride & Attraction Closures and refurbishments at Walt Disney World in July

SpectroMagic Parade – (Magic Kingdom – parade) is not offered this summer; instead, the Main Street Electrical Parade has been brought to Florida as part of the summertime “Nightastic” events.

Cantina de San Angel (Restaurant – Epcot / Mexico Pavilion) is closed for a major refurbishment until September 2010.

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (3D Movie – Epcot / Imagination Pavilion) is not being shown. Captain EO (featuring Michael Jackson) has returned for a limited time.

Disney’s Magical Express (Airport Shuttle Service) – New luggage procedure for late night arrivals. Luggage service will no longer be available for arrivals to Orlando International Airport after 10:00PM. Collect your luggage at baggage claim and take with you to the Disney’s Magical Express check-in desk.

We book directly through Disney so you never pay more for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation and then – at no charge to you – we provide your choice of one of three great options for Disney theme park touring plans that keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines. See www.buildabettermousetrip.com for more information.